eat

Universal Words 1 to put food in your mouth, chew it and swallow it: [V] I was too nervous to eat. * She doesn't eat sensibly (= doesn't eat food that is good for her). * [VN] I don't eat meat. * Would you like something to eat? * I couldn't eat another thing (= I have had enough food). 2 [V] to have a meal: Where shall we eat tonight? * We ate at a pizzeria in town. IDIOMS eat sb alive (informal) 1 to criticize or punish sb severely because you are extremely angry with them: He'll eat you alive if he ever finds out. 2 to defeat sb completely in an argument, a competition, etc: The defence lawyers are going to eat you alive tomorrow. 3 [usuallypassive] (of insects, etc.) to bite sb many times: I was being eaten alive by mosquitoes. eat your heart out! (spoken) used to compare two things and say that one of them is better: Look at him dance! Eat your heart out, John Travolta (= he dances even better than John Travolta). eat your heart out (for sb/sth) (especially BrE) to feel very unhappy, especially because you want sb/sth you cannot have: I'm not going to mope at home, eating my heart out for some man. eat humble pie (BrE) (AmE eat crow) to say and show that you are sorry for a mistake that you made ORIGIN From a pun on the old word umbles, meaning 'offal', which was considered inferior food. eat like a horse (informal) to eat a lot: She may be thin, but she eats like a horse. eat out of your / sb's hand to trust sb and be willing to do what they say: She'll have them eating out of her hand in no time. eat sb out of house and home (informal, often humorous) to eat a lot of sb else's food: How much longer is he staying? He's eating us out of house and home. eat your words to admit that what you said was wrong I could eat a horse (spoken) used to say that you are very hungry I'll eat my hat (spoken) used to say that you think sth is very unlikely to happen: If she's here on time, I'll eat my hat! what's eating him, etc.? (spoken) used to ask what sb is annoyed or worried about moreatCAKEn., DOGn. PHRASALVERBS eat sth<->away to reduce or destroy sth gradually: The coastline is being eaten away year by year. eat away at sth/sb 1 to reduce or destroy sth gradually: Woodworm had eaten away at the door frame. * His constant criticism ate away at her self-confidence. 2 to worry sb over a period of time: The thought of her child left helpless and alone ate away at her. eat into sth 1 to use up a part of sth, especially sb's money or time: Those repair bills have really eaten into my savings. 2 to destroy or damage the surface of sth: Rust had eaten into the metal. eat out to have a meal in a restaurant, etc. rather than at home: Do you feel like eating out tonight? eat up